QC fast charging circuit for docking station and use method

Abstract

The invention discloses a QC fast charging circuit for a docking station and a use method, and belongs to the field of battery circuit control. The circuit comprises a conversion chip and a QC chip which are arranged in the docking station, a PD charging module of the conversion chip is electrically connected with a USB-C downlink port through a CCwire1 and electrically connected with a USB-C uplink port through a CCwire2, and the conversion chip is used for communication transmission between a mobile phone end and a charger; the QC chip is electrically connected with a USB-C downlink port on the docking station through a D + / D-interface, and the QC chip is used for acquiring voltages of all charging gears of the charger; the GPIO pin of the conversion chip is electrically connected with the VOL pin of the QC chip through the RC integrating circuit, and the RC integrating circuit is used for processing the PWM voltage sent by the conversion chip and transmitting the processed result to the QC chip. According to the invention, the QC quick charging function of the docking station can be realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery circuit control technology, and in particular to a QC fast charging circuit and its usage method for a docking station. Background Technology

[0002] QC fast charging solutions refer to fast charging protocols such as QC3.0 / QC2.0 / Samsung AFC / Huawei FPC that communicate via USB 2.0 D+ / D-. In USB-C scenarios, mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablets are typically charged using a USB-A charger and a USB-A to USB-C charging cable.

[0003] In related technologies, when a docking station is connected in series between the charger and the mobile phone, QC fast charging cannot be achieved because the docking station does not support the QC protocol, and the mobile phone can only perform 5V slow charging.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a QC fast charging circuit and usage method for docking stations to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a QC fast charging circuit and its usage method for a docking station, which can realize the QC fast charging function of the docking station. The technical solution is as follows:

[0006] On one hand, a QC fast charging circuit for a docking station is provided, the circuit including a conversion chip and a QC chip disposed inside the docking station, wherein:

[0007] The PD charging module of the conversion chip is electrically connected to the USB-C downlink port via CCwire1 and to the USB-C uplink port via CCwire2. The conversion chip is used for communication transmission between the mobile phone and the charger.

[0008] The QC chip is electrically connected to the USB-C downstream port on the docking station via a D+ / D- interface. The QC chip is used to obtain the voltage of all charging levels of the charger.

[0009] The GPIO pin of the conversion chip is electrically connected to the VOL pin of the QC chip through an RC integrator circuit. The RC integrator circuit is used to process the PWM voltage sent by the conversion chip and transmit the processed result to the QC chip.

[0010] On the other hand, a method for using a QC fast charging circuit for a docking station is provided, the method comprising:

[0011] The conversion chip is used to detect whether the charger connected to the USB-C downstream port is a PD charger. If not, multiple PWM voltages with different duty cycles are sent through the GPIO pins of the conversion chip, and the RC integration circuit is used to process the PWM voltage.

[0012] The QC chip is used to enumerate the voltage of all charging levels of the charger based on the processed PWM voltage, and the enumeration result is transmitted to the conversion chip for charging protocol conversion.

[0013] The obtained charging level is sent to the mobile phone using CCwire2, and the charging level that meets the fast charging requirements is selected based on the feedback information from the mobile phone for fast charging.

[0014] The technical solution provided by this invention offers at least the following advantages: By selecting an external QC chip to implement the QC-to-PD protocol, and further connecting the QC chip and the conversion chip via an RC integrating circuit, the USB-C downstream port on the docking station induces high voltages of 9V / 12V / 15V / 20V through the QC protocol via D+ / D-. Then, the PD charging module of the conversion chip converts this to the PD protocol, and high-voltage fast charging is achieved through PD message transmission with the mobile phone via CCwire2. This invention provides a low-cost solution; when a QC charger is connected to the USB-C downstream port of the docking station, the mobile phone can be fast-charged via the USB-C upstream port using QC. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a QC fast charging circuit structure for a docking station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a conventional docking station circuit structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the charging waveform of an RC integrating circuit provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the QC chip settings provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5This is a flowchart of a QC fast charging circuit usage method for a docking station provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are some embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] As mentioned earlier, existing docking stations do not support the QC protocol, which prevents mobile phones from achieving QC fast charging within the docking station.

[0023] Based on this, the concept of the present invention is to realize the QC to PD protocol by using an external QC chip, so as to enable fast charging of mobile phones that support the QC protocol.

[0024] The specific implementation of the above concept is described below.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1 This invention provides a QC fast charging circuit for a docking station, comprising a conversion chip and a QC chip disposed inside the docking station, wherein:

[0026] The PD charging module of the conversion chip is electrically connected to the USB-C downlink port via CCwire1 and to the USB-C uplink port via CCwire2. The conversion chip is used for communication transmission between the mobile phone and the charger.

[0027] The QC chip is electrically connected to the USB-C downstream port on the docking station via a D+ / D- interface. The QC chip is used to obtain the voltage of all charging levels of the charger.

[0028] The GPIO pin of the conversion chip is electrically connected to the VOL pin of the QC chip through an RC integrator circuit. The RC integrator circuit is used to process the PWM voltage sent by the conversion chip and transmit the processed result to the QC chip.

[0029] The following description Figure 1 The circuit shown consists of various parts.

[0030] The docking station's USB-C downstream port is electrically connected to the charger, and its USB-C upstream port is electrically connected to the phone to be charged. Figure 2In the traditional technology shown, since only a conversion chip is provided in the docking station, it does not support the QC protocol. This causes mobile phones that support QC fast charging solutions such as "QC3.0 / QC2.0 / Samsung AFC / Huawei FPC, etc." to be unable to perform fast charging when connected to the docking station, but can only perform slow charging at 5V.

[0031] For this situation, in the embodiment of the present invention, a QC chip is externally connected in the docking station, and QC protocol spoofing is performed by electrically connecting to the D+ / D- interface of the USB-C downstream port, so that the QC charger outputs high voltages such as 9V / 12V / 15 / 20V, etc. Then, the PD charging module of the conversion chip is used to convert it into the PD protocol, and finally, PD messages are exchanged with the mobile phone through CC wire2 to achieve high-voltage charging.

[0032] However, in this process, there is a problem of how to interact between the conversion chip and the QC chip at a low cost. For this, in this embodiment, a multi-stage RC integrating circuit is arranged between the conversion chip and the QC chip to achieve level control of the QC chip.

[0033] Specifically, the charging waveform of the RC integrating circuit is as Figure 3 shown. The GPIO output PWM waveform (0 to 3.3V, duty cycle D) of the conversion chip is transmitted to the QC chip through the RC integrating circuit. When the frequency of the PWM is much << RC, after 5RC time, it will stabilize within the voltage range of 3.3*D. It can be seen that by adjusting the duty cycle of the PWM, different magnitudes of DC voltages can be obtained. And as Figure 4 shown, the QC chip includes 5 gears, corresponding to 5 charging voltages (5V / 9V / 12V / 15V / 20V) respectively. The adjusted PWM can be used to spoof the corresponding voltage gear, so as to facilitate subsequent charging processing.

[0034] It should be noted that there will still be ripples in the stable voltage obtained by using the RC integrating circuit during the charge and discharge process. In order to improve the voltage stability, the RC integrating circuit can be set as a second-order integrating circuit, thereby reducing the voltage ripple.

[0035] In the embodiment of the present invention, the ADC1 pin of the conversion chip is also electrically connected to VBUS1 of the USB-C downstream port; at the same time, the ADC2 pin of the conversion chip is electrically connected to VBUS2 of the USB-C upstream port. The ADC1 pin is used to monitor the voltage transmitted by the charger, and the ADC2 pin is used to detect the mobile phone voltage to determine whether the mobile phone has completed charging.

[0036] Furthermore, to prevent damage to the phone from excessive charging voltage, a connection switch is provided between VBUS1 and VBUS2. This connection switch is electrically connected to the CTRL pin of the conversion chip to ensure that the voltage transmitted by the charger is within the phone's charging voltage range. The switch will only connect VBUS1 and VBUS2 to charge the phone when the voltage transmitted by VBUS1 is within the range that the phone can withstand.

[0037] Please refer to Figure 5 This invention provides a method for using a QC fast charging circuit in a docking station, applicable to any of the above embodiments. The method includes:

[0038] Step 500: Use the conversion chip to detect whether the charger connected to the USB-C downstream port is a PD charger. If not, send multiple PWM voltages with different duty cycles through the GPIO pins of the conversion chip, and process the PWM voltages using the RC integration circuit.

[0039] Step 502: The QC chip is used to enumerate the voltage of all charging levels of the charger based on the processed PWM voltage, and the enumeration result is transmitted to the conversion chip for charging protocol conversion.

[0040] Step 504: Use CCwire2 to send the obtained charging level to the mobile phone, and select the charging level that meets the fast charging requirements for fast charging based on the feedback information from the mobile phone.

[0041] In this embodiment of the invention, the criterion for determining whether a charger is a PD charger is as follows: if the charger transmits a CC message 1 second after the CCwire1 and the USB-C downstream port are connected, the charger is determined to be a PD charger; otherwise, the charger is determined to be a non-PD charger. If the charger is determined to be a PD charger, the QC chip function is skipped, and charging is directly performed using the PD protocol.

[0042] In this embodiment of the invention, determining the charging level that meets the fast charging requirements based on feedback information from the mobile phone and performing fast charging includes: obtaining the charger charging level transmitted by CCwire2; outputting a PWM duty cycle that matches the mobile phone charging level based on the charger charging level; using the ADC1 pin to detect whether the VBUS1 voltage connected to the USB-C uplink port meets the charging level requirements, and charging the mobile phone based on the detection result.

[0043] Specifically, the conversion chip sends the charging level to the mobile phone via CC wire2; then the mobile phone selects one of the charging levels according to its own capabilities and sends a request to the conversion chip; the conversion chip evaluates the mobile phone's request, and if it can satisfy it, it sends an accept message to the mobile phone to start charging.

[0044] In this embodiment of the invention, charging the mobile phone based on the detection results includes: after VBUS1 sampled by ADC1 meets preset requirements, opening the CTRL pin to charge the mobile phone; after VBUS2 sampled by ADC2 meets preset requirements, ending the charging process. Specifically, when the VBUS2 voltage reaches a preset high voltage range, it is determined that the mobile phone charging has been completed and the process ends.

[0045] In summary, the above embodiments utilize RC integrator circuits (first-order or higher-order) to achieve single-wire communication, simplifying the design and reducing costs; at the same time, a communication protocol is established that is compatible with the USB-C power delivery protocol, making it adaptable to various mobile phones; ultimately, the QC fast charging function of the docking station is realized.

[0046] As can be seen from the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that this application can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product can be stored in a storage medium, such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc., and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in various embodiments or some parts of the embodiments of this application.

[0047] Finally, it should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as first, second, third, and fourth are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0048] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of this application. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of this application, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A QC fast charging circuit for a docking station, characterized in that, The circuit includes a conversion chip and a QC chip disposed inside the expansion dock, wherein: The PD charging module of the conversion chip is electrically connected to the USB-C downlink port via CCwire1 and to the USB-C uplink port via CCwire2. The conversion chip is used for communication transmission between the mobile phone and the charger. The QC chip is electrically connected to the USB-C downstream port on the docking station via a D+ / D- interface. The QC chip is used to obtain the voltage of all charging levels of the charger. The GPIO pin of the conversion chip is electrically connected to the VOL pin of the QC chip through an RC integrator circuit. The RC integrator circuit is used to process the PWM voltage sent by the conversion chip and transmit the processed result to the QC chip.

2. The circuit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The ADC1 pin of the conversion chip is electrically connected to VBUS1 of the USB-C downstream port, and the ADC1 pin is used to monitor the voltage transmitted by the charger. The ADC2 pin of the conversion chip is electrically connected to VBUS2 of the USB-C uplink port. The ADC2 pin is used to detect the phone voltage to determine whether the phone has finished charging.

3. The circuit as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A connection switch is provided between VBUS1 and VBUS2. The connection switch is electrically connected to the CTRL pin of the conversion chip to ensure that the voltage transmitted by the charger is within the range of the mobile phone charging voltage.

4. The circuit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The PWM voltage ranges from 0V to 3.3V.

5. The circuit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The RC integrator circuit is at least a second-order integrator circuit.

6. A method for using a QC fast charging circuit for a docking station, characterized in that, Applied to the circuit as described in claims 1-5, the method includes: The conversion chip is used to detect whether the charger connected to the USB-C downstream port is a PD charger. If not, multiple PWM voltages with different duty cycles are sent through the GPIO pins of the conversion chip, and the RC integration circuit is used to process the PWM voltage. The QC chip is used to enumerate the voltage of all charging levels of the charger based on the processed PWM voltage, and the enumeration result is transmitted to the conversion chip for charging protocol conversion. The obtained charging level is sent to the mobile phone using CCwire2, and the charging level that meets the fast charging requirements is selected based on the feedback information from the mobile phone for fast charging.

7. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The step of using the conversion chip to detect whether the charger connected to the USB-C downstream port is a PD charger includes: If the charger transmits a CC message 1 second after the CCwire1 and the USB-C downstream port are connected, the charger is determined to be a PD charger; otherwise, the charger is determined to be a non-PD charger.

8. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The step of determining the charging level that meets the fast charging requirements based on feedback information from the mobile phone and then performing fast charging includes: Obtain the charger charging level transmitted by CCwire2; The PWM duty cycle is matched to the charging level output of the charger and the charging level of the mobile phone. The ADC1 pin is used to detect whether the voltage of VBUS1 connected to the USB-C uplink port meets the charging level requirements, and the phone is charged according to the detection result.

9. The method as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The step of charging the mobile phone based on the detection results includes: After VBUS1 sampled by ADC1 meets the preset requirements, the CTRL pin is turned on to charge the mobile phone. Once the VBUS2 sampled by ADC2 meets the preset requirements, the charging process ends.

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